Yesterday, having done our "laps" in the Mall, heading for the down escalator, as we approached it, we saw two little girls attempting to get on, to ride down. They were way too young, the smaller one perhaps 3, the other 6 at most. They both turned around, several stairs down already evidently frightened by the sight looking down the stairs. The smaller stumbled, the older picked her up under the arms, and frantically tried to climb back to the top, of course moving downward. My wife was ahead of me, calling to the girls. They managed to get back to the top. Their mother, surely not much over 20, was nearly all the way down already, paying no attention to her kids! I had seen the possibility of a disaster being made. My wife screamed down at the mother, who turned around with a very annoyed look. Assisting the girls down, my wife proceeded to unleash invective at the mother, who resolutely declared her girls can take care of themselves. This reaction by my wife was unusual, for her, I suspect it arose from "nesting instinct". I saw it could have escalated, and preferred that not happen. Shortly, my wife turned away, a non-repeatable oath said under her breath. Case of children having children? Or, something else? The young woman was not poorly dressed, nor short of fitting words. How other should this have been handled? Call Security? I just don't know about people, nowadays. Frank
Most younger people today have not run into escalators or alligators and wouldn't know what to do. Every Mother follows her own "instincts".
That young mother was fortunate not to have encountered my husband for surely she would get a good reprimand. My husband is very conscious of misbehaving children in public places. One time we were in church and there were 2 little girls running (playing tag maybe). The mass is ongoing and everyone is focused on the priest. And then those 2 little girls were there near the altar, huh. When the little girls went back to their mother, my husband approached the woman and gave her a piece of his mind that the church is a place for worship and if she wants her children to enjoy fresh air then she should bring them to the park. After that, the little girls behaved.
That is really a hard situation. One does not want to try and take care of someone else's children, especially a total stranger, and yet, it is pretty obvious that the mother was very neglectful not to be watching out for her children, especially at such a young age. Even a six year old is pretty young to be left alone on an escalator, and certainly way too young to be taking care of a three year old. Although if the mother was upset, I am sure that the little girls were thankful for your wife helping them, @Frank Sanoica . Calling security probably would only have made the situation worse, so it seems you did the best thing possible just helping out the girls and keeping them safe.
That kind of reminds me of the time I was at Walmart, when a shopping cart with two kids nearly rolled off the curb and into the parking lot. This was a busy shopping day and there were cars darting every which way. I grabbed the cart,,and said to the mother WHo was off in la la land of course,$(#% your cart almost rolled into the street. . Instead of thanking me for saving her kids from probably being injured or worse...She said "Well you didn't have to swear." I felt like saying oh ok, if you feel that way, next time I will let the cart roll of the curb...and your kids will get hurt or killed, but I will be calm as a cucumber!
My goodness why have children if you can't be responsible about them. At such young ages they are learning about life and the world and the irresponsibility is atrocious! Not being at least thankful is disgraceful to me. These parents are lucky nice people were around concerned enough to care and correct the parent so they too can learn to be better parents. I pity those children having such parents! God help those children and keep them safe!
Her children can take care of themselves until something really bad happens. Doesn't sound like this so called woman will be paying much attention to her kids. Wait till they hit their teenage years. It was good of you and your wife to intervene but look at the kind of person you dealt with. No brains or caring when it comes to the children.